Brazil loses to Morocco in the first game after the Cup – 03/25/2023 – Sport

The Brazilian team started the cycle for the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 defeat against Morocco, this Saturday (25), at the Ibn Batouta stadium, in Tangier. The lack of harmony was crucial for the negative result, and the first Brazilian defeat in three clashes against the Moroccans — they had won the other two.

The team was led on an interim basis by coach Ramon Manezes, 50, as the CBF is still looking for a replacement for Tite. In an interview with Band, before the game, Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the entity, said that the team should have a new coach in June, on the next FIFA date. Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup begin in the second half.

Italian Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid, is the favorite to take over from Tite. Rodrigues neither confirms nor denies the intention to hire a 63-year-old coach and says that the range is open to both foreigners and Brazilians.

The game also paid homage to Pelé, who died in December last year. All players in Brazil played with the name Pelé on their shirts. There was also a minute of silence, with players from both teams in a half circle in midfield and the screen showing a photo of the King.

Brazil started the match with only four players who were on the field in the elimination to Croatia, in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar: Éder Militão, Casemiro, Lucas Paquetá and Vinícius Júnior. New faces like Emerson Royal, Andrey and Rony have been given a chance, but their continuation in the group will depend on who the new boss is.

The Moroccan team, on the other hand, had the same base that made history in Qatar, when for the first time in history an African team reached the semifinals of a World Cup. Much more integrated than Brazil, the team created good opportunities and knew how to control the game.

And it didn’t even feel like a friendly. The game was very tight, with many fouls and hard shots. Well placed in defense, the Moroccan team managed to hold back Brazil’s advances and bet on the direct connection to try to surprise on the counterattack.

But it was Brazil who had the chance to score. Or rather, scored but it wasn’t worth it. In a clumsy exit by goalkeeper Bono, who was featured in the Qatar Cup, Vinícius Júnior sent the ball to the back of the net, but the referee annulled it for offside – after two minutes of consultation at VAR.

But three minutes later Morocco gave the change and managed to open the scoring. Emerson Royal lost the ball under pressure from three Moroccan players, Boufal countered with El Khannous and sent Weverton into the low corner.

After the goal, Brazil started to press a little more, with Rony being more active on the right wing. However, the team missed many passes and got flustered in finishing.

In the second half, Ramon Menezes returned with the same formation. Brazil started to press a little more and pose danger in search of the equalizing goal, but continued to make the same mistakes as in the first stage.

At 19 minutes, Ramon made the first changes in Brazil, removing Rony, Rodrygo and Andrey and putting on the field Vitor Roque, Antony and the newcomer Raphael Veiga.

And two minutes after the changes, the Brazilian team tied. Casemiro received the ball from Paquetá at the edge of the area and hit it low. Goalkeeper Bono, on an unrecognizable night, failed badly, letting the ball slip under.

The game was more balanced, but in a new failure of the defensive sector of Brazil, Morocco was back in front, with a goal by Sabiri, catching the ball rebounded by Militão.

In the final minutes, Brazil was putting more forwards, but, increasingly mismatched, it was not able to avoid defeat.